An Italian explorer funded by the Spanish monarchy, who is known for his 1492 voyage that inadvertently led to the discovery of North America, and whose diary was copied by Bartolomé de Las Casas.

A Spanish priest, scholar, and historian who criticized the conquest and mistreatment of indigenous peoples in the Americas and wrote against the atrocities of Spanish colonialism.

An English jurist and Member of Parliament known for his work on English common law, his involvement with the Virginia Company, and his assertion of Parliamentary rights against royal authority in the early 1600s.

An English philosopher whose ideas on natural rights and government were influential in the American Revolution, and who participated in colonial affairs by drafting the constitution for Carolina.

An influential writer and revolutionary whose pamphlet "Common Sense" laid out arguments for American independence and whose subsequent works addressed broader concepts of rights and revolution.

A key Founding Father known for his roles in establishing American institutions, his opposition to slavery, and his advocacy for press freedom, as well as his efforts in the American Revolution and Constitution.

Sister to Benjamin Franklin, she corresponded with him and provides a perspective on women's lives in the 18th century, highlighting the impact and limitations of gender roles at the time.

A Founding Father and the second U.S. president, known for his work on the Massachusetts Constitution and the Declaration of Independence; he had a complex relationship with political parties.

The third U.S. president and a principal author of the Declaration of Independence, known for his leadership, intellectual contributions, and contradictory views on slavery.

The fourth U.S. president and often called the "Father of the Constitution," Madison played a crucial role in drafting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and promoting religious freedom.

A delegate to the Constitutional Convention who refused to sign the Constitution without a Bill of Rights, known for his advocacy of individual liberties and influence on the Declaration of Rights.

The first U.S. president and a central figure in the American Revolutionary War, known for his leadership, establishment of presidential precedents, and his plantation economy supported by enslaved labor.

A Founding Father and the first Secretary of the Treasury, known for his financial policies, authorship of The Federalist Papers, and rivalry with Thomas Jefferson.

The sixth U.S. president and son of John Adams, notable for his diplomatic career, presidency, and opposition to the expansion of slavery, as well as his role in drafting the Monroe Doctrine.

The seventh U.S. president known for his populism, military heroism, Indian Removal policies, and establishment of the Democratic Party as a major political force.

An ardent abolitionist and journalist best known for founding and publishing the abolitionist newspaper, The Liberator, and for his radical stance against racial injustice.

A transcendentalist philosopher and writer who lived simply at Walden Pond, known for his essay "Civil Disobedience," which advocated for individual conscience over unjust laws.

An escaped slave who became a leading abolitionist, orator, writer, and publisher, known for his autobiographies and his role in advocating for African American and human rights.

A prominent journalist, critic, and women’s rights activist associated with the Transcendentalist movement, known for her writings on gender equality and her work as America's first female war correspondent.

A prominent women's rights activist and writer, known for her leadership role in the early suffrage movement and co-authoring the Declaration of Sentiments.

A former enslaved woman who became a key figure in the Underground Railroad, guiding many enslaved people to freedom, known for her bravery and strategic skills.

The 16th U.S. president who led the nation through the Civil War, known for his efforts in preserving the Union and emancipating enslaved people.

A militant abolitionist who believed in armed insurrection against slavery, famously leading a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry.

An orator and cofounder of the populist People’s Party who spoke on behalf of farmers and laborers, advocating for economic justice and women's rights.

A populist economist known for his advocacy of a "single tax" on land and his critical writings on wealth inequality and economic justice.

A leading populist and Democratic politician known for his oratorical skills, advocacy for farmers, and his role in the Scopes Trial against teaching evolution.

A historian whose "Frontier Thesis" proposed the idea that the American frontier shaped the nation's character and democracy, influencing historical scholarship.

A journalist and activist known for her anti-lynching campaigns and writings, highlighting racial violence and advocating for African American civil rights.

A journalist and political commentator known for cofounding the New Republic, his writings on public opinion, and coining the term "cold war."

An efficiency expert known for developing principles of scientific management, influencing industrial practices with his emphasis on optimizing labor productivity.

The 26th U.S. president known for his charismatic leadership, progressive policies, and significant contributions to conservation and national parks.

A civil rights activist, sociologist, and historian known for his work on race relations, founding the NAACP, and his advocacy for African American rights.

The 28th U.S. president known for his leadership during World War I, his progressive reforms, and his efforts to establish the League of Nations.

An industrialist and founder of the Ford Motor Company, known for revolutionizing automobile production with the assembly line and mass production techniques.

The 31st U.S. president, whose administration dealt with the onset of the Great Depression, known for his humanitarian efforts and subsequent lack of relief programs.

The 32nd U.S. president who led the U.S. through the Great Depression with his New Deal policies and through most of World War II.

The First Lady of the United States renowned for her advocacy for civil and women's rights and her active role in political and social issues.

A prominent civil rights leader known for his advocacy of Black empowerment, his role in the Nation of Islam, and his push for racial justice by any means necessary.

The 36th U.S. president who is known for his significant achievements in civil rights legislation and the expansion of social welfare with his "Great Society" programs.

A pioneer in the field of public opinion polling, known for establishing the Gallup Poll and introducing scientific methods to understand public sentiment.

A poet, civil rights activist, and legal scholar known for her efforts to challenge racial and gender discrimination and her contributions to civil rights law.

The 33rd U.S. president, best known for ending World War II by using atomic bombs and attempting to establish national health insurance.

The Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court known for presiding over landmark civil rights decisions, including Brown v. Board of Education.

The 37th U.S. president known for his foreign policy achievements, domestic initiatives, and eventual resignation amid the Watergate scandal.

The 35th U.S. president, known for his charismatic leadership during the Cold War, his vision for civil rights progress, and his tragic assassination.

The first African American Supreme Court Justice known for his legal prowess, key role in civil rights litigation, and contribution to ending segregation.

A civil rights leader known for his advocacy of nonviolent protest, his leadership in the civil rights movement, and his impactful "I Have a Dream" speech.

A civil rights activist who played an organizational role in the NAACP, SCLC, and SNCC, advocating for grassroots leadership and inclusion in the civil rights movement.

An Alabama governor known for his staunch pro-segregation stance and opposition to civil rights during the 1960s, symbolizing Southern resistance to desegregation.

A U.S. senator and 1964 Republican presidential nominee known for his conservative views, opposition to federal civil rights mandates, and influence on the modern conservative movement.

A political activist known for her opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment, organizing conservative women to preserve traditional family values.

The 40th U.S. president known for his conservative policies, charismatic communication style, and influence on the political and cultural landscape of the 1980s.

An activist known for his leadership in SNCC and popularizing the term "Black Power," advocating for racial pride and self-determination in the civil rights movement.

A former U.S. senator, Secretary of State, and First Lady known for her work on health care reform, women’s rights, and her candidacies for president.

The 42nd U.S. president known for his economic policies, welfare reform, and health care initiatives, as well as his impeachment over a scandal involving Monica Lewinsky.

The 44th U.S. president and the first African American to hold the office, known for his "Hope and Change" campaign, leading the country through economic recovery, and instituting the Affordable Care Act.